A Learning Laboratory for New Parents
Habitot's Family Services Coordinator and the Parenting Education
Manager circulate on the floor of the museum on a regular
basis, sharing information and support with parents and caregivers.
Exhibit signage and exhibit activity cards help foster parent-child
interactions and teach parents about developmental stages.
A 'Purple Parenting Cart' distributes hundreds of articles
and reprints each month on a wide variety of parenting topics.
In addition a monthly e-newsletter, mailed to over 2,000 families,
also highlights current parenting issues.
Habitot recognizes that parents and caregivers need support,
education, and resources to help them observe, understand,
and stimulate the children in their care. Habitot's Parenting
Education Program functions as the 'backyard fence' American
families once relied upon for information, parenting strategies,
and support.
Through formal and informal activities, the Parent Education
Program seeks to increase knowledge of early childhood development;
introduce parenting skills that support effective communication,
positive discipline, and respectful relationships; build confidence
through social and emotional peer support; and promote active
parent-child interaction and engagement. To learn more about
how to use our exhibits to facilitate your child's learning.
list of
in-house brochures
Parenting Classes
Habitot offers 25 evening parenting classes a year, led by
professional parenting experts, with fees ranging from $0
to $25 based on income. Childcare is available in the museum
so that both parents can attend. Class topics range from child
safety to discipline strategies to managing parent anger.
Classes are approved for court-appointed parenting classes.
parenting
classes and workshops for teachers (Teach Reach &
Art Reach)
Family Resource
Center
A library of 800+ parenting books and reference materials
is open to the public; the collection circulates to members.
We also have a page with links to sites having references
that we recommend for parents.
family
resource center
parenting resource_links
Parent to Parent
Café
Caregiver Café
A free, drop-in parenting program, 'Parent-to-Parent Café',
is offered weekly. Each session is organized for a constituency
of parents: multiracial families, stay-at-home parents, home
schooling families, LBGT parents, and others. A similar program,
'Caregiver Café', is offered exclusively for non-parental
caregivers, once each month during which their particular
needs are addressed. Both drop-in programs involve Habitot
staff-facilitated discussion and sharing around a parenting
topic. Art activities are conducted for children in an adjacent
space. Coffee, tea and pastries and hand-outs are provided
each session. Parent to Parent and Caregiver Café
Made possible by an:
Every Child Counts Grant
Funded by First 5 Alameda County
Teen Times
A Teen Parent
Program
Once a month, Habitot hosts teen parent groups from local
high schools, agencies, or non-profit organizations for exclusive
time in the museum. Teen Times encourages playful parent child
interactions in the museum's hands-on exhibits and Art Studio.
Staff from our parent education and early childhood education
department are on hand to support parent behaviors that build
positive communication, facilitate children learning and increase
teens' knowledge of early childhood development. Experts are
invited to present mini workshops on child safety, nutrition,
literacy and play-based learning. Take home activities and
handouts are provided to each teen, as well as a free return
visit passes. Our model program involves pre- and post-visits,
and up to six museum visits a year. For information, contact
parented@habitot.org
Made possible by an: Every Child Counts Grant Funded by First 5 Alameda County
Special Times
for Special Families
Special Programs
for Disabled Children
Habitot's facility is fully accessible to children and families
with special needs. Once each quarter (more often on request),
Habitot hosts 'Special Times for Special Families' for up
to ten special needs families. The program aims to introduce
the museum to special needs families and give children the
opportunity to become familiar with and comfortable in the
museum. Participating families enjoy exclusive use of the
museum for two hours with staff on hand to help special needs
families use the exhibits and experience the art activities.
The ultimate goal is for special needs families to join the
mainstream of families using the museum. There is no charge
for 'Special Times for Special Families' but reservations
are required. For information, contact parented@habitot.org
Made possible by an: Every Child Counts Grant Funded by First 5 Alameda County
Special Campaigns
Habitot has special campaign events focusing on early childhood
safety and literacy.
early childhood campaigns
Early Childhood
Safety Campaign
For the past six years, Habitot coordinates an Early Childhood
Safety Campaign sponsored by State Farm Insurance. Working
with police departments, public health agencies and hospitals
to prevent accidents in young children, Habitot presents a
series of events and demonstrations in the museum and in the
community including car seat checks, choke-saving training,
and toddler helmet distribution. Throughout the campaign,
Habitot distributes hand-outs and other information on fire
safety, baby proofing, environmental health, poisoning, water
safety and other safety topics in the museum. Thousands of
families have benefited directly.
Early Childhood
Literacy Campaign
According to recent surveys, only 50% of American families
have books in the home. Reading readiness at kindergarten
depends in part on parent activities in the early years. A
multi-cultural-themed 'Storytelling Tent' exhibit has soft
couches and cushions that encourage parents and children to
read aloud from dozens of picture books, early readers, books
in multiple languages and books with multicultural themes.
A storytelling training program is in place, and trained volunteers
present weekly storytimes throughout the year. Family Literacy
Nights feature art and exhibit activities that foster reading
readiness skills. Habitot sponsors book sales that promote
more books in the home; which also generate in-kind books
that are distributed to teen parents and low income families
through our Family and Community Partnerships program. Habitot
staff is trained in Bring Me a Book Foundation's 'First Teachers'
early literacy program.
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